https://youtu.be/r3uZRIszWyw

Dear Montessorian,

This is the job opening you have been waiting for. No, really, it is.

We seek an experienced Elementary Guide to lead a well-established and normalized 9-12 classroom starting in mid-August 2016. Are you that person?

Our school:

We celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2015. 40 years! We are one of the oldest Montessori schools in Northern California and the oldest Montessori school in our region. Over the years, our school has grown slowly. Starting from rented space for one Primary classroom in a local church, we have grown to serve more than 400 children from Infancy through Upper Elementary at three locations.

Our Elementary classrooms have been in operation since the 1970’s, so they are well equipped with just about every piece of material you will need to do your best work. Although systems and procedures are in place and the classroom in beautifully adorned, we will provide you ample freedom to make it your own.

Our school is AMI affiliated and you will join a staff of dedicated Montessori professionals, many of whom have been with us for their entire career. We meet regularly to collaborate, connect, and refine our practice as a team. One of the advantages of being an AMI school is that we all “speak the same language”; having shared the transformative experience of AMI training, we have the freedom to create amazing classroom environments with a common commitment to Dr. Montessori’s vision.

Our leadership:

Our Elementary programs are led by Wendy Tye, our Director of Education. Wendy is on the AMI Elementary Alumni Association board. We were honored when her classroom was featured on Montessori Guide. We think she is awesome – and I’ll bet that you will, too.

I am the organizational leader of our school and am on the board of the Montessori Administrators Association. A few years ago I created a little site called MariaMontessori.com; I continue to work as the site editor and also run a Facebook presence for Dr. Montessori (which just hit 600,000 fans around the world!). You may want to check out this interview that I did with Dr. Steve Hughes a few years ago for our local NPR station, and a few other videos we have created: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckyC53sOcpg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf2PbGB4b30

Our special sauce (what makes us unique!):

I have observed in a lot of different (and fantastic) Montessori schools across the country and can say, without reservation, that our school is a unique place to work. Here are some of the things that I think we do right in our Elementary program:

• We don’t give homework. This is non-negotiable. We expect children to do meaningful and purposeful work all day at school. Time at home should be just that. Time. At. Home.
• We only use standardized tests in our Upper Elementary. It is one tool (of many) that we use to evaluate progress.
• We don’t have a board; our school is privately held. There are no political landmines to navigate.
• The school doesn’t do fundraising of any kind. There is no auction and we won’t ask your students to sell magazines or tulip bulbs. Our entire operating budget is funded by tuition from parents.
• Our school is diverse. Some families are well off. Many are solidly middle class. Some attend on full scholarship. Most families really want to be with us because of the unique Montessori environment we provide.

Yes, Northern California is just as awesome as you imagine:

Sacramento is a great place to live. Play tennis in December? Yeah, usually, as long as it isn’t raining (don’t worry – it doesn’t rain all that much). It can get hot for a few months in the summertime, but the average humidity keeps it tolerable. We have two major universities along with a bevy of cultural experiences for those interested in that sort of thing. And, there are many world class day trips within a 3 hour drive. Lake Tahoe? Napa Valley? San Francisco? Monterey? Yosemite? Check.

Sacramento is one of the last progressive, growing regions in Northern California with a high quality of life that is still affordable. Middle class people can afford to buy homes here. You won’t have to live 40 miles away from the school to afford it. Get in while you can!

More about you:

Although we are open to all applicants, the preferred candidate should have:

• A Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent)
• AMI Elementary training
• 5 years of experience leading an Elementary classroom
• Better than average written and verbal communications skills
• A positive outlook on people and life
• A strong work ethic (you should love what you do!)
• A life-long focus on self-improvement
• Flexibility
• A sense of humor

What we offer you:

A very competitive employment package, including:

• A year round salary well above the industry average
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Ample PTO to preserve your physical, mental and emotional well being
• Full tuition remission for your children
• Time off to observe in other schools
• An annual professional development stipend
• A retirement savings program with annual matching by the school
• Moving assistance (if needed)

The truth:

Our school is far from perfect. We all have our own issues as guides and administrators and have a long way to go to reach our vision as one of the best Montessori schools in the county. We continue to work on reaching this goal every day.

We don’t expect you to be perfect, either – just honest, nice, flexible, and hard working with an unwavering commitment to Dr. Montessori’s vision for children and society. We really can make a difference in this world if we work together!

More on working together -and this is important:

We (the administrators) won’t mess with you in your classroom. We won’t micromanage you, meddle in your day to day work, or politic on behalf of parents or other “important” people in the community. We choose you purposefully and trust that you are an incredible person. If you have an AMI diploma, we know that you are well trained. All other details are negligible.

Please don’t take these statements as if our work in our school is stress free. Challenging things happen all the time. It is hard work. But – if you have read this far without clicking away – you are probably just the kind of person who likes it that way. Hard work makes you feel good. It’s rewarding. It means that your professional career is meaningful and has purpose.

This is your next step:

Open Elementary positions at our school are rare, so don’t dilly dally. If you are interested in learning more, please email a resume. From there, we can schedule a remote interview via phone or Skype to touch base. If it feels like it may be a good fit, we will schedule an in person visit (on our dime). Our hiring process is tempered and deliberate – we want this to be your “forever school” – and the only way to determine this is to visit in person, meet our staff, observe, and really get a sense of our community.

I look forward to talking with you soon. The best is yet to come!

Kindly,

Matt Hillis

Executive Director

 

Interested candidates should email a resume and cover letter to Matt Hillis, Executive Director, at Matt@BergamoSchools.com.

Bergamo Montessori Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, nationality or ethnic origin with regard to hiring, admission, or in the administration of any of its programs.